Your dining table is far more than a place to eat — it’s a gathering spot, a workspace, and often the true centrepiece of your home. At the heart of it all is the tabletop material. The surface you choose determines not only the look and feel of your dining area, but also how practical and long-lasting your table will be.

So what is the best material for a dining table? The short answer is: it depends on how you live. Timber dining tables are warm and timeless, marble and other natural stone tables feel luxurious but need a little more care, while engineered and sintered stone tables offer outstanding durability for busy families. Glass and light timber tops are ideal when you want your dining space to feel bigger and brighter.

At Adore Home Living, we offer a curated selection of premium dining tables crafted from high-quality materials to suit a range of lifestyles and interior tastes. Whether you prefer the warmth of timber, the elegance of marble, or the resilience of engineered stone, this guide will compare the most popular dining table materials so you can choose the best tabletop material for your home.

Timber

Warm, natural and timeless
Timber is a longstanding favourite thanks to its warmth, character and ability to suit almost any interior style. Every solid timber dining table boasts unique grain patterns, making each piece truly individual.

Albany Dining & Living Collection

Why choose timber?

• Adds natural warmth and texture
• Incredibly versatile — suits Scandinavian, coastal, contemporary and classic homes
• Comfortable, tactile surface
• Ages beautifully with time and proper care

Best for
Family homes, natural interiors, warm and inviting dining spaces.

Considerations

• Can scratch or mark — we recommend placemats and coasters
• Direct sunlight may cause fading or drying

Popular timber:
Marri: Marri wood is a Western Australian hardwood known for its gum-veined appearance and common use in furniture, making it a popular choice for timber dining tables in Perth and across WA.

Natural Marble Stone

Elegant, luxurious and unique
Natural stone instantly elevates the dining room with its striking patterns and luxurious presence. No two slabs are ever exactly alike.

Louis Marble Dining & Living Collection

Why choose natural stone?

• Beautiful, high-end aesthetic
• Unique veining gives each table its own personality
• Cool, smooth surface ideal for contemporary or classic interiors

Best for
Statement dining rooms, luxury homes, elegant modern spaces.

Considerations

• Natural stone is porous — spills should be cleaned promptly
• Sensitive to acidic substances such as wine or lemon
• Requires a little more maintenance, including periodic sealing

Care tip:
Use coasters and wipe spills quickly on a marble dining table to help protect the stone and keep it looking its best.

Ceramic

Classic durability with a modern, natural aesthetic
Ceramic surfaces are highly valued for their strength, heat resistance, and scratch resistance. They offer a clean, natural look that suits a wide range of contemporary interiors.

Nitya Dining & Living Collection

Why choose ceramic?

• Highly resistant to scratches, stains, heat, and UV
• Colour-fast and long-lasting
• Wide range of colours and finishes, including stone and concrete looks
• Easy to clean with minimal maintenance

Best for
Busy families, durability-focused households, modern interiors, minimalist and nature-inspired styling.

Considerations

• Cool, firm surface — pairs well with upholstered or leather dining chairs for added warmth
• Often styled with clean lines and metal legs for a contemporary aesthetic

What is a ceramic table?
A ceramic table is made by forming natural clay and minerals, then firing them at high temperatures to create a solid, durable surface. Ceramic is resistant to heat, scratches, and stains, making it a practical, low-maintenance option for a dining table while still offering a premium, elegant look.

Glass Table Tops

Light, spacious and contemporary
Glass dining tables help small spaces appear larger and brighter, making them a popular choice for open-plan living and compact homes.

Lawson Glasss Living Collection

Why choose glass?

• Creates a sense of openness
• Easy to keep clean
• Showcases the table base as a design feature
• Brings a sleek, modern aesthetic to the room

Best for
Minimalist homes, apartments, and contemporary interiors.

Considerations:

• Shows fingerprints more easily
• Can chip if knocked at the edges
• Works best when paired with a striking base

Practical tip:
Tempered glass is a good option for dining tables, as it’s stronger and designed to be safer if broken.

Laminate & Wood-Look Table Tops

Stylish, practical and budget-friendly

Modern laminates can mimic the look of timber or stone remarkably well while offering excellent durability.

Ava Living & Dining Collection

Why choose laminate or wood-look surfaces?

• Resistant to stains, scratches and heat
• An excellent budget-friendly option
• Huge array of colours and textures
• Ideal for everyday family use

Best for:
Young families, high-traffic dining spaces, rental-friendly furniture choices.

Considerations:

• Lacks the tactile feel of real timber or stone
• Higher-quality laminates offer more realistic finishes

Stone vs Timber Dining Tables: Which Is Better?

Both stone and timber dining tables have their strengths, so the “best” option comes down to your lifestyle and style preferences.

Choose a timber dining table if you:

• Love a warm, natural, organic look
• Want a surface that develops character over time
• Prefer a softer, more tactile tabletop

Choose a stone dining table (marble, travertine or ceramic) if you:

• Want a striking statement piece
• Prefer a cooler, more refined look

How to Choose the Perfect Table Top Material

1. Consider your lifestyle

• Raising young children or hosting often? → Choose engineered stone or ceramic
• Love a warm, organic feel? → Timber
• After luxury and sophistication? → Marble or travertine
• Limited space? → Glass

2. Match your interior styling

• Coastal → Light oak timber
• Modern → Ceramic, engineered stone or glass
• Classic → Dark timber or natural stone
• Minimalist → White stone, sintered stone or glass

3. Think about room size and lighting

• Small or dark spaces → Glass or light timber tops
• Spacious or open rooms → Statement stone or richly toned timber

4. Maintenance preferences

• Low maintenance → Engineered stone, sintered stone, laminate
• Medium → Timber
• Higher maintenance → Marble, travertine

Your dining table top material influences everything — from durability and ease of cleaning to the atmosphere of your dining space. Whether you’re drawn to the organic beauty of timber, the refined elegance of marble, or the impressive durability of engineered stone, Adore Home Living offers a range of premium dining tables designed to suit every style and lifestyle.

Explore solid timber, marble, glass, laminate, engineered stone and sintered stone dining tables in our collection to find the best dining table material for your home.

Browse our full dining collection online or visit one of our showrooms to explore materials up close and find the perfect centrepiece for your home.

Questions? We’re here for you. Call 1300 000 887 or email info@adorehomeliving.com.au